Ethiopian Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union introduces Ethiopian Coffee

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The Oromia Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Union was established in 1999 by 35 small organic cooperatives. Its members are indigenous farmers in the vast Oromia state of southern and southwestern Ethiopia, which produces 65 per cent of the country's coffee. The farm is located in a mountainous rainforest area between 1500 and 2000 meters above sea level, with little electricity and running water.

Coffee grown by the founding cooperative is organic, forest-friendly and bird-friendly. Its high quality is achieved through environmentally friendly methods handed down from generation to generation-organic, non-chemical crops and intercropping with food crops to improve soil fertility. Coffee bushes are dotted with plants such as cardamom and ginger, fruits such as papaya, mango and avocado, and root crops such as sweet potatoes; acacia and oaks provide shadows. Fallen leaves and decaying plant matter as well as animal manure enrich the soil. Ripe and red coffee cherries are selectively picked by hand and processed in a clean environment to prevent legume contamination. Their quality won the third place in the cupping test of the American Special Coffee Association (SCAA) in 2003.

Oromia operates under an auction market exemption, allowing it to export directly to professional markets in the United States, Europe and Japan. This means it can bypass middlemen and Ethiopian coffee auctions, so the price of member coffee is much higher. Oromia provides credit facilities and technical assistance and has received funding from the Common Fund for Commodities to establish cashew projects to diversify income.